midtown midweek math after midnight

How’re your math skills holding up?  Are you feeling up to the challenge?  3+2+2+6=_____

Naw, I don’t think it’s as simple as that.  We’re talking about new math.  Here’s what I mean:

3–the # of months that Dan Nold challenged us to invest as missionaries to our neighbors.  What’s that?  You remember, last week’s We Are…sermon.  You can listen here if you missed it.  But the bottom line is that if we’re going to live out this “new life, following Jesus, on mission with Jesus” life, we’ve got to find ways to love our neighbors and help them connect with the God who loves them.  So many of you get that, and I couldn’t even count the number of you who stood to make the 3-month commitment at the end of midtown (that was amazing, btw).  Here are a few ideas to get you started, just in case you need them:

     *PrayerWalk your neighborhood, dorm, office, etc.

     *Invite your friends to dinner/dessert to talk about what God has been doing in your life.

     *Find a need in your neighborhood and meet it

When you have an opportunity to love and bless your neighbors, shoot me a note to let me know!

2–the # of worship gatherings at midtown.  Starting October 21 we’ll have worship at 9:30 and 11:15.  The music and teaching will be the same at both gatherings.  We’ll offer Kidz Connexion (our ministry for children) at 9:30 only.  We believe that our worship gatherings play an important role in helping unchurched people connect with God, so we’re trying to create some room in the 11:15 gathering for them.  Would you please pray for this new launch, and I’d love it if you’d give your seat at 11:15 to someone who isn’t currently attending midtown!  And if you’re wondering if you should invite your unchurched friends to midtown, the answer is yes!

2–the # of prayer opportunities coming your way, October 14 and 21.

Flood the Valley, Oct 14, 7pm at our building on University Dr (1250 University). This is Calvary’s monthly church-wide prayer time.  We’ll mix it up with some worship, prayer in large and small groups, an opportunity to receive prayer, etc.  You seriously should come to this.

Then next Sunday, the 21st, we’ll be praying with other churches in the city, 6pm at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.  I LOVE praying with folks from other congregations, hearing what God is doing, believing together for a breakthrough in our community…good stuff…

6–I am asking God for 6 people to step into a leadership role for some new lifegroups.  I’ve said it before: if we’re going to grow larger as a body we’ve got to grow smaller.  That means we need to create some new lifegroups that meet during the week.  What’s a lifegroup?  Great question:  lifegroups are smaller groups of people who meet to practice what it means to follow Jesus (we call that discipleship).  They study the Bible, pray, worship, play, eat, laugh, cry, serve, give, bless, care, help…you get the picture.  If you are interested in helping lead a group like this, I’d love to hear from you.  We’ll train you, support you, equip you, and help you in this.  We’ve got some great resources at your disposal, and a few of our lifegroups are THRIVING!  But I know that there are so many more people at midtown who absolutely need a lifegroup.  If you’re one of those leaders, please shoot me a reply and let’s grab some coffee.

OK, I think that’s enough…Oh, the answer to the math question?  Simple.  Check out John 17 or Psalm 133 to check your answer.